Sometimes with all the hoopla of the holidays, we may forget to teach our kids about the history and meaning behind them. Whether you work in a quick conversation between holiday tasks or allot special time for meaningful activities, your child will benefit from a deeper understanding of Thanksgiving.

• The pilgrims originally gave thanks for a bountiful harvest. How does that translate to modern life? What might your family be thankful for?
  
  
• Use Thanksgiving as a kick-off for a year of thanks. A gratitude journal is a simple project that might change how your children view their world. In a small notebook, write 3-5 things every day that they are grateful for: an afternoon at the park, strawberry ice cream, a visit from Grandma, a new pencil, fall leaves to jump in, absolutely anything big or small, exciting or mundane.
  
  
• Visit the library and check out an age-appropriate book about the history of Thanksgiving to read at bedtime.
  
  
• Kids love to share what they know. Ask older children to research Thanksgiving on the Internet and share their new knowledge with the family during dinner.
  
  
• Native Americans played an important role in the survival of the pilgrims and celebrated the original Thanksgiving with them. Talk about how and why this relationship changed.
  
  
• Share your abundance with others. Have your kids pack and deliver food to a local charity like the Second Harvest Food Bank or Valley Rescue Mission, and GIVE thanks.